Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Nine is a musical with a book by Arthur Kopit and music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. The story is based on an Italian play by Mario Fratti inspired by Federico Fellini's autobiographical film 8½. It focuses on film director Guido Contini, savoring his most recent (and greatest) success but facing his fortieth birthday and a midlife crisis blocking his creative impulses and entangling him in a web of romantic difficulties in early-1960s Venice.

After nineteen previews, the Broadway production, directed by Tommy Tune and choreographed by Thommie Walsh, opened on May 9, 1982 at the 46th Street Theatre, where it ran for 729 performances. The cast included Raul Julia as Guido, Karen Akers as Luisa, Liliane Montevecchi as Liliane, Anita Morris as Carla, Shelly Burch as Claudia, and Taina Elg as Guido's mother.

Replacements later in the run included Bert Convy and Sergio Franchi as Guido, Maureen McGovern as Luisa, Wanda Richert as Carla, Priscilla Lopez as Liliane and Scott Grimes as one of the children. The musical won five Tony Awards, including best musical. An original cast recording was released by Sony.

{ SONGS }

{ TONY AWARD }

Tony Award for Best Musical (WINNER)Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical -Arthur KopitTony Award for Best Original Score -Maury Yeston (WINNER)Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical -Raul JuliaTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical -Karen AkersTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical -Anita MorrisTony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical -Liliane Montevecchi (WINNER) Tony Award for Best Scenic DesignTony Award for Best Costume Design (WINNER)Tony Award for Best Lighting DesignTony Award for Best ChoreographyTony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (WINNER)